Cremation, Natural or Green Burial As Alternatives

Here in British Columbia 87% of the funeral service consumers are choosing cremation. This is typical especially in urban areas that are finding cemetery space both limited and expensive. Cremation is the combustion, oxidization and vaporization of the human body which leaves behind bone fragments and ashes commonly referred to as cremated remains. These remains typical fit into a container that holds seven pints of ash.

The remains of your loved one may be kept in the home, divided among family members, interred at a grave site, memorialized in a columbarium at a funeral home, or scattered at an appropriate site.

The cost of cremation is typically one quarter the cost of a standard burial according to Canadian Funerals Online.

The designation “green” points to the most obvious aspect green burials are environmentally friendly. They attempt to protect and preserve the environment and the natural cycles occurring in it. Some people regard these as the most important reasons for having such a burial. Rather than being hermetically sealed in isolation or removed through cremation, the remains of the deceased continue to be part of the natural life cycle of the planet.

Here are some links for you to explore;

In Victoria there is an existing green burial park within the Royal Oak Cemetery.

The Natural Burial Association has a very complete website with tons of great information on green burials.

“Think about your final resting place for a moment. Would you prefer to be surrounded by tombstones and lawns, or by glades and meadows full of birds and butterflies? If your answer is glades and meadows, then a natural burial ground will be the place for you. But there are more reasons to choose a natural burial.”

“The method behind ecological burial is called “Promession” and it is crystal-clear, easy to grasp and accept. It is based on a new combination of tried-and-tested techniques that prepare the corpse for a natural process of decomposition. The procedure is justifiable in terms of ethical, moral, environmental and technical considerations, and does not subject the body to violent or destructive handling.”